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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Family members not fond of name choice - any experience with this?

58 replies

MRSDoos · 15/11/2022 07:42

We find out the gender next week.
First mistake I probably made was to tell our family some name choices and not everyone seemed keen.
Our top boy name is Nathan. Some people have turned up their nose on that name and think it’s a bit out dated.
We are still 99% sure we will be calling our baby (if they are a boy) Nathan but now I feel a bit anxious about it

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fdkc · 15/11/2022 22:02

I dont like the name Nathan but that's partly because where I come from it would be pronounced with the t sound only not th.

I wouldn't be in the slightest bit bothered about what anybody thought of my name choices. I'm sure not everybody was fond of my kids names and I am not overly fond of some of the names that my family members/friends chose for their kids. In sqying that i would actually never say that to them.

You can't please them all so just please yourself.

jellybe · 15/11/2022 22:01

Make it clear that you will not discuss it further. I probably wouldn't tell them the sex of the baby either once you know so they can't keep badgering you about Nathan if it's a boy or start suggestion girls names if it isn't.

(I think Nathan is a lovely name)

milawops · 15/11/2022 21:57

This is why we refused to tell anyone until the baby was born. It's a lot harder to say anything negative about the name when the baby it belongs to is here (some will still manage it)
Stick to your guns and don't be bullied out of it. If the opinion of a random stranger matters to you at all, I think Nathan is a lovely name.

Cakecakecheese · 15/11/2022 21:51

Nobody's business but yours. Come up with something wacky and then they'll be begging for you to return to Nathan 😂

qwerdi · 15/11/2022 20:12

We had this.

"Her name is xxxx. We like it, you will get used to it.

HildaHedgehog · 15/11/2022 20:05

People are incredibly cheeky and entitled when it comes to other people's baby names. Seriously, unless you're calling your kid Adolf Hitler or Beelzebub Shaytan or something, it's none of any cheeky effer's business.

TalkisChips · 15/11/2022 12:46

This was why we never discussed names with anyone!

Nathan Is fine, there’s one at my children’s school.

soulinablackberrypie · 15/11/2022 10:51

I quite like the name Nathan but it wouldn't matter if I didn't. Your family are entitled to their private opinion but this is your baby, his name is none of their business, and it's rude of them to try to change your mind. I agree with others who've said once the baby arrives and grows into the name, it becomes the baby's name and harder to dislike.

bodill · 15/11/2022 08:56

Nathan is a nice name and definitely not "out-dated". I would encourage you to stick to your guns. Family members are always going to have some name they would prefer you use, but it's your turn to name a baby, not theirs.

greenacrylicpaint · 15/11/2022 08:48

it's a lovely name.

as a parent you need to learn not to give a fuck to other opinions. you will get plenty during the remainder of your pregnancy and once baby is born.
and learn not to discuss everything with people. especially with those you know that have an opinion on everything.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 15/11/2022 08:43

Rookie mistake. Never discuss names with anyone apart from your partner. Everyone will have an opinion.

beonmywaythen · 15/11/2022 08:43

Asp Nathan is a lovely name

beonmywaythen · 15/11/2022 08:43

Yes - we all hated my niece's name before she was born but now we can't imagine her being called anything else! They will come round

Original poster
MRSDoos · 15/11/2022 08:41

@Blowyourowntrumpet It is crazy that people turn their noses up at names like Jake or Nathan!

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Original poster
MRSDoos · 15/11/2022 08:40

Thank you everyone!

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Redsquirrel5 · 15/11/2022 08:23

Mil and FIL weren’t keen on DS1 name at first but got used to it. My advice is please yourselves.
Nathan is a lovely name. Our DS3 is Nathan.
Tell them your baby , your choice!

2pinkginsplease · 15/11/2022 08:05

Not their baby .

Nobody really liked our boys name for our first child, we couldn’t have cared less and used it anyway. My mum was one who said “you can’t call him that” TBH it made me more determined to use it, a year down the line she told me she couldn’t imagine a name that suited him better! 😂

it’s you and your partners decision to make and no one else’s.

Fufumcgoo · 15/11/2022 08:04

My mother wrinkled her nose up at both my boys names. She was rude and I told her so. It's none of their fucking business! Your baby, your name!

Roselilly36 · 15/11/2022 08:02

Lovely name OP.

doingitalllagain · 15/11/2022 08:00

My son was going to be called Chester and I let myself be bullied out of it by families opinions, now there's plenty of baby Chester's and no one bats an eye!

This time around I refused to tell my mum the names we are considering when she asked, no one else has asked and I won't be saying. I asked everyone their opinions last time as I really wanted to get it right but it made it harder. It's no one else's business!

FourChimneys · 15/11/2022 07:59

None of their business, your baby, not theirs.

I could sense that some family members didn't like DS's name but didn't dare say.

Not that my opinion is worth anything to you, but I love the name Nathan. I have known two and they were both adorable boys.

Aleaiactaest · 15/11/2022 07:54

It is a classic biblical name so can’t date.

Always choose a name you love or you will regret it.

Blablablaaaaa · 15/11/2022 07:51

Don’t discuss names with them

Blowyourowntrumpet · 15/11/2022 07:51

I'm one of those people who is very judgemental about baby names, but Nathan is a genuinely nice name.

I had a negative reaction to my DS's name which is Jake. I just got really annoyed in the end and said that it was our decision and that I couldn't care less if they didn't like it.

If you like the name Nathan, go for it. It's a great name

KangarooKenny · 15/11/2022 07:50

Do not tell anyone names, it’s none if their business.
and Nathan is lovely.

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